These Are the Craziest Options on the Porsche 911

If you've spent any time reading any article in any publication about any Porsche 911, you've probably heard that Porsche offers a lot of ridiculous options for it. In fact, at this point, the Porsche 911's crazy options are discussed almost as frequently as is its driving experience. There are very few conversations I have about the Porsche 911 where some strange option isn't mentioned at least once. That's just how it is. You hear "Porsche" and you think "cool cars and expensive options."

But what exactly are the strange options in the 911? I've spent the morning on the Porsche configurator, and, in my opinion, these are the six most bizarre.

Air Vents in Leather -- $1,720

One of the most ridiculous things about the Porsche 911's options list is just how many features, trim pieces and panels are offered in leather. One of the most bizarre is this one, "Air Vents in Leather" -- although it's important to note that this option actually refers to the tiny trim piece surrounding the air vents. If you want that trim piece in leather, you'll pay $1,720 for the privilege. Which sounds absolutely crazy, until you hear about...

Air Vent Slats in Leather -- $1,200

I think this is even more ridiculous than Air Vents in Leather, because now we're talking about the little slats that direct the air inside the climate control vents. No one ever wanted these things to be anything other than plastic. No one ever considered these things being anything other than plastic. It was never even thought about by the vast majority of the automotive driving population. But Porsche lets you get them in leather. It also charges you an almost unbelievable $1,200 to do so.

Fuse Box Cover in Leather -- $390

Porsche's Fuse Box Cover in Leather would be even more ridiculous than the above items, except for the fact that it's priced fairly reasonably -- or, at least, it's priced reasonably relative to the air vent stuff. Choose this option, and Porsche will take your fuse box cover -- this is located in the dark driver footwell, where nobody ever sees it, and where it constantly gets scuffed or scraped by your feet -- and finish it in leather. Fortunately, this is a bargain at "only" $390.

Headlight Washers in Custom Color -- $295

Of all the myriad options on Porsche's ridiculous options lists, Headlight Washers in Custom Color is the one that makes me laugh the most. Admittedly, it's only $295 -- but it gives you the chance to choose your own special color for the tiny little pieces (which are smaller than a dime) that stick up out of the bumper to clean your headlights. If you ever order this, I want you think about it objectively for a second: You're paying $295 to paint your headlight washer covers. At that moment, you have surely lost your grip on reality.

Rear Footwell Lighting -- $430

For $430, you can have additional lighting in the rear footwell of your 911. This is a fairly small feature, but it's not a small amount of money -- and my favorite thing about it is, well, who exactly needs the rear footwell of their 911 lit up? The whole problem with the 911 is that the rear seats are absolutely impossible for anyone to fit in, regardless of his or her size or shape. Do people really need extra lighting to see that they can't fit? This question seems to be answered by Porsche itself, as this is one of the few options on their website where they don't provide a picture -- presumably because it's completely inaccessible.

Vehicle Key Painted and Key Pouch in Leather -- $530

The "Vehicle Key Painted and Key Pouch in Leather" is an all-time classic Porsche option. Order a normal Porsche and your key comes in black, like virtually all other car keys. Want it painted to match your vehicle? That will be an extra $530 -- just for a key that's finished in a different color. But don't get too disappointed with the cost of this option: It also comes with a leather key pouch.

Doug DeMuro is an automotive journalist who has written for many online and magazine publications. He once owned a Nissan Cube and a Ferrari 360 Modena. At the same time.

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